Nitrate
City of Ottawa
Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.390 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.115 ppm | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.230 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.0650 ppm | 2 | 1 | ND - 0.130 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.145 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.130 ppm - 0.160 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.200 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.240 ppm | 2 | 2 | 0.230 ppm - 0.250 ppm |
ppm = parts per million
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm
The legal limit for nitrate, established in 1962, was developed to protect infants from acute methemoglobinemia, a life-threatening disorder of oxygen transport in the body. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer and harm to the developing fetus.
ppm = parts per million
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-07 | 110568 | 0.390 ppm |
| 2015-05-12 | 331951 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2015-06-03 | 343621 | ND |
| 2016-05-04 | 537900 | ND |
| 2016-05-17 | 547205 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 761499 | 0.130 ppm |
| 2017-05-16 | 761505 | 0.160 ppm |
| 2018-05-16 | 971158 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2018-05-16 | 971159 | 0.200 ppm |
| 2019-05-08 | 1157458 | 0.250 ppm |
| 2019-05-20 | 1157461 | 0.230 ppm |